Solid D
03-31-2005, 01:46 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA033105.7C.BKNspurs.glover.18e60a111.html
Web Posted: 03/31/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Hoping to add some depth to their dwindling perimeter corps, the Spurs signed guard Dion Glover to a second 10-day contract Wednesday.
The Spurs received clearance to sign Glover on Tuesday after FIBA questioned last week whether he remained under contract with a team in Turkey.
Forward Linton Johnson III was placed on the injured list to make room for Glover.
Johnson had been on the injured list for the first 41/2 months of the season after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Team officials had hoped he'd play his way onto the playoff roster, but he's appeared hesitant in workouts.
"I just don't think his progress has been very good as far as him showing that he feels better about his play, so to speak," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's still way too tentative on the foot for us to depend on him in basketball games."
With Devin Brown sidelined indefinitely, Glover might be needed if the Spurs have to use a smaller lineup in the playoffs against Phoenix or Seattle. He appeared in four games during his first 10-day contract, totaling 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes.
"He's been in the league and he knows how to play," Popovich said. "He has a real toughness about him. He can pass, catch and shoot and we're going to need another body in that area come playoff time."
Brown has missed four games since being placed on the injured list with a disk injury in his lower back. He received another steroid injection Wednesday to try and relieve inflammation around a nerve root.
"The first (shot) didn't do a whole lot," Popovich said. "He's still a hurting young lad."
Duncan on the mend: With Tim Duncan continuing to make progress rehabbing his sprained right ankle, team officials haven't changed their hope that he will be able to return with five games remaining in the regular season.
"He's improving day by day," Popovich said. "It might be seven games, it might be three games, we don't know."
Familiar face? If you're wondering where Seattle's Damien Wilkins came from, and why he looked vaguely familiar, the answers are: He came off the injured list, and he is the son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins, Dominique's brother.
Wilkins has assumed a more prominent role for the Sonics with Rashard Lewis out with a sore foot. He scored 11 points in Wednesday's game, one night after he hit a critical 3-pointer in a victory over the Grizzlies.
Coach Nate McMillan said Wilkins earned a spot on the roster during training camp. McMillan said he doesn't like to go to camp without an open roster spot, just in case a player like Wilkins catches his eye.
"I learned that two years ago," McMillan said, "where we went in and signed Ansu (Sesay) and we liked some other guys, and didn't have a spot for them. I always feel like there will be one guy you can use. Damien was one of those guys we had a spot for this year."
Exceeding expectations: Seattle qualified for the playoffs for the first time in three years with its victory Tuesday.
"We've way exceeded (expectations)," All-Star guard Ray Allen said. "You can flip-flop Minnesota with Seattle. What we're doing now is what Minnesota was expected to do, and what they're doing were our expectations."
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Staff writer Mike Monroe contributed to this report.
Web Posted: 03/31/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Hoping to add some depth to their dwindling perimeter corps, the Spurs signed guard Dion Glover to a second 10-day contract Wednesday.
The Spurs received clearance to sign Glover on Tuesday after FIBA questioned last week whether he remained under contract with a team in Turkey.
Forward Linton Johnson III was placed on the injured list to make room for Glover.
Johnson had been on the injured list for the first 41/2 months of the season after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Team officials had hoped he'd play his way onto the playoff roster, but he's appeared hesitant in workouts.
"I just don't think his progress has been very good as far as him showing that he feels better about his play, so to speak," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's still way too tentative on the foot for us to depend on him in basketball games."
With Devin Brown sidelined indefinitely, Glover might be needed if the Spurs have to use a smaller lineup in the playoffs against Phoenix or Seattle. He appeared in four games during his first 10-day contract, totaling 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes.
"He's been in the league and he knows how to play," Popovich said. "He has a real toughness about him. He can pass, catch and shoot and we're going to need another body in that area come playoff time."
Brown has missed four games since being placed on the injured list with a disk injury in his lower back. He received another steroid injection Wednesday to try and relieve inflammation around a nerve root.
"The first (shot) didn't do a whole lot," Popovich said. "He's still a hurting young lad."
Duncan on the mend: With Tim Duncan continuing to make progress rehabbing his sprained right ankle, team officials haven't changed their hope that he will be able to return with five games remaining in the regular season.
"He's improving day by day," Popovich said. "It might be seven games, it might be three games, we don't know."
Familiar face? If you're wondering where Seattle's Damien Wilkins came from, and why he looked vaguely familiar, the answers are: He came off the injured list, and he is the son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins, Dominique's brother.
Wilkins has assumed a more prominent role for the Sonics with Rashard Lewis out with a sore foot. He scored 11 points in Wednesday's game, one night after he hit a critical 3-pointer in a victory over the Grizzlies.
Coach Nate McMillan said Wilkins earned a spot on the roster during training camp. McMillan said he doesn't like to go to camp without an open roster spot, just in case a player like Wilkins catches his eye.
"I learned that two years ago," McMillan said, "where we went in and signed Ansu (Sesay) and we liked some other guys, and didn't have a spot for them. I always feel like there will be one guy you can use. Damien was one of those guys we had a spot for this year."
Exceeding expectations: Seattle qualified for the playoffs for the first time in three years with its victory Tuesday.
"We've way exceeded (expectations)," All-Star guard Ray Allen said. "You can flip-flop Minnesota with Seattle. What we're doing now is what Minnesota was expected to do, and what they're doing were our expectations."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff writer Mike Monroe contributed to this report.